The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-24
MAURICE rHoMPsoN's METHODS.
He Has Attained Success by Industry, Thrift
and Judicious Recreation.

He Has Attained Success by Industry, Thrift
and Judicious Recreation.
New York Letter in louisville Courler-Journal.
Maurice Thompson. the Indiana poet and
writer, furnishes another instance of early and
immediate literary success. In reply to some
questions on this and other points Mr. Thompson
writes:
From the very first my writings have been
accepted and paid for by the publishers Prior
to 1873 had written very little About that
date sent the manuscript Of an archery paper
neighbornood of $500 for IL, but it did not appear
until the June or July number Of 1877 be-
lieve, simultaneously with paper wrote for
Scribners Monthly Meantime had written
number of papers for Appleton's Journal the
New York Tribune and some poems for the
Atlantic Horace Greeley very
kind to me, and, although never
met but twice. he took a great interest
in my writings. Francis Lieber discovering
that was somewhat given to nature study, al
took kindly to me and gave me good counsel
This was while was but youth. / have never
permitted my self to depend wholly upon my pen
for a livelihood, not because have looked upon
the profession of literature more precarious
than the other professions. hut because like to
mingle with the practical business world and
make my fight with it. l may say. however,
that my income from my pen has been quite
sufficient of itself to fully meet the require
ments OF my household for come years past. SO
that have laid by my earnings from other
sources, and am humoly. but comfortably we'll
oil In this worlds goods Or, might more safely
say that am ahead in the world about the
full amount of my literary earnings to date,
say from twenty to thirty thousand dollars. /
reason why author should not be as
thrifty as any other person, do Dsee any
reason why any one of the other professions
should MORALLY affect the profession of literature
What little reputation l have an author was
fairly won. while l was a bard-workiug and sue
cessful lawyer. On the other hand, my literary
work never iuterfered in the least with my law
practice. look upon a well-set method OF work
ing the chief secret of success in nv under
taking. provided the native ability" to succeed
be granted
81 believe in the moral influence and vitaliz-
ing force of playing A man a woman needs
play. recreation, or whatever is the opposite Of
sports, and have been the gamer from them in
every sense. is q morbid view of life which
would show that in order to succeed one must
work all the year round. Play is profitable if
held within the bounds prescribed by good iudg-
ment l have frequently lost business in nv
profession by being absent from my office when
client called, but it has not made me poor
wretched. On the contrary, have gone
right on getting together a comfortable little
am glad whenever think about the pleasure 1
had at my outdoor recreation, while some
neefier or more money loving lawyer was get
ting few cases at my expense To some peo
pie it may sound like romance when say that
for nj ne years past have spent an average
three months of time successfully practcing
law and pursuing literary work with sufficient
count. Meantime have been cheerful, IN good
health and at all times glad to be alive. What
is the secret2 Steady habits. promptness in
meeting every obligation in law or literature,
and conscientious reliance upon the value Of
painstaking labor"